Partition construction



Feb. 6, 1962 J. A. BOHNSACK PARTITION CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5, 1957 f I I 0 I n 1 I u I 6 I LE A H N I u 2 I j I M I I, I W n 1 4 I M n I 2 I h a m u a, I s I 5 II II m I n F A n I 1 6 u h n I 6 3/ I I u I 5 n f 6 a J I2 m m m ATTORNEYS Feb. 6, 1962 J. A BOHNSACK PARTITION CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 5, 1957 mmvrox. (1572/; A. flair/sack ATTORNEYS 3,019,862 PARTITION CONSTRUCTION John A. Bohnsack, Pottsville, Pa., assignor to .Aetna Steel Products Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed July 5, 1957, Ser. No. 669,981

8 Claims. (Cl. 189-34) This inventionrelates to wall construction and more particularly to steel partitions.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a wall formed of' a'series of steel panels disposed in end-toend relation with adjacent panels associated with each other in such manner as to permit the dismounting and removal of a panel at any point along the length of the wall without requiring the dismounting or-displacement of a series of the panels extending from one end of the wall to the panel which is'r'to be removed, as heretofore required in the case of walls of the type to which this invention relates. For example, if it is desired to provide a door or other opening in a partition wall formed of a series of panels, it is a relatively simple matter pursuant 1 to the present invention, to remove one-or more panels from the wall at the place at which the door or other opening is to be constructed.

Another object of'the inventlon is to provide improved means for supporting'and securingthe panels and for reenforcing the interconnection between the wall panels and the wall base so as to prevent rocking of the base about a longitudinal axis, which might occur, for example, when the floor is uneven;

A further object is to provide improved 'means for releasably holding the panels in close end-to end relation.

A yet further object is generally to improve the art of prefabricated panel and other elements for movable partition walls. V

The above and other-objects, features and advantages of this invention will be fully understood from the following 'ends of two adjacent panels, the side base plates being removed, and a part of one of the panels being cut away for the'purposes of illustration; j

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional View, on a larger scale,

on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view on line 4-4 of FIG. 2; l

' FIG. 5'is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view, on a larger scale,

. on the line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view, on a larger scale, as observed from the line 7-7 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a more-or-less diagrammatic viewillustrating how adjacent panels are removed from the wall.,

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 illustrates a partition wall comprising a series of metal panels 10 disposed in end-to-end abutting relation. Each panel is composed of the companion laterally spaced panel members or sides 12 having refiexed, inwardly bent, parallel end portions 14 providing a smooth folded edge 16 which abuts the similar folded edge of the adjacent panel. The laterally spaced reflexed ends 14 have transverse parts 18 terminating in flanges 19 which are spot welded to each but which may be secured in any other bottom 4% (FIGS. 3 and 6).

3,51%,352 i atented Feb $62 suitable way, for example, by the clips shown in my US. application, Serial No. 602,793, filed August 8, 1956, assigned to the assignee of the present application.

A verticalstud or channel member 22 is disposed at the joint between adjacent panels in the recesses therebetween formed by the reflexed end portions 14 of the panel members. Said studs 22 extend substantially for the full height of said panels and serve to hold them in alignment. As

here shown (FIG- l), the panels extend upwardly through the dropped ceilingindicated at 24 in FIGS. 1 and 3, positioned below the'structural ceiling 26, but it will be understood that thepanels may be employed with any type of ceiling. Studs 22 will be described subsequently in further detail, as they ortheir equivalent constitute an important part of the present-invention.

The top and bottom of each panel are closed by the longitudinal channel members 28 and 30, respectively, positioned in the space between the confronting panel sides 12? They are held' in position by the upper and lower -ones of a' plurality of horizontal channel members 32 which are spot welded at their flanges 33 to the inner sides of the sheet metal panel members 12 in laterally spaced relation-thereon, respectively, for reinforcing said panel members. -.More particularly, channel members 28 in place; a

The panels 10 are mounted on panel supports 36 provided'on a base channel-38 which alsosupport the removable side plates or base boards 44) which overlap the lower parts of the panels 10 in resilient engagement there with as describediii-US. Patent No. 2,968,374 issued January 17, 1961. I The panel supports are disposed at the opposite ends of each panel, at the joints between adjacent panels. Each panel support comprises the confronting spaced sides 42 upstanding from and integral with the The lower ends of the lateral parts 18 at the ends of the panels extend across the space between said sides 42 of the panel supports and rest on the upper edges 46 thereof as more clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. Sides 42 of the panel supports have upper end portions which project upwardly beyond the edges 46 and have inner downwardly inclined cam edges 48 which engage the transverse end portions 18 of adjacent 'panels as the latter are placed in position on the panel supports, and cam the adjacent panels endwise toward each other in centered relation on said supports when positioned thereon, and thus also hold the adjacent panels together at their adjacent ends. Theadjacent upper ends of adjacent panels are held together by the removable inverted U-shaped clips 50 (FIG. 7). Caps 52 are removably placed at the tops of adjacent panels 10 (FIGS. 2 and 7), at the meeting ends thereof and are each provided with an opening 54 through which electric wires (not shown) may enter into the recesses between the,

panels and pass downwardly for arrangement longitudinally on the base between the sides 42 of the panel supports. Said caps 52 engage the opposite sides of adjacent panels 12 at their meeting ends and aid in holding the panels against relative displacement transversely of the Wall. Access to clips St for installation or removal thereof may be had through openings 54 in caps 52.

The lower ends of the panels are attached to the panel supports and held against transverse displacement by plate-like members 56 which are welded to the lower parts of the studs 22 (FIGS. 3 and 5) and extend transversely of the panels in the recess therebetween as a downward continuation or projection of the stud 22 therein. Reinforcing member 56 has a lower portion 53 which fits closely between the opposite panel support sides 42 in slidable engagement therewith. Also, lower end portions 6% of member 56 are slotted, as indicated at 62 in FIG. 3, so that said portions 56 engage the sides 42 of the panel supports externally thereof and aid in the secure attachment of the panels to the panel supports and prevent displacement of panel support sides 42 away from each other.

The lower edge 64 of member 56 is recessed so that it may be lowered in relation to the bolt 66 which is secured to base channel 38 and by which the panel support 36 is secured to the bottom of base channel 38. As shown and described in my above-mentioned U.S. Patent 2,968,374, one or more shims, here indicated at 68 (FIG. 3), are disposed in the base channel 3t; between the bottom thereof and the bottom of the panel support, as may be required at each panel support along the length of the base for levelling the lower ends of the panels to com pensate for uneveness in the level of thefloor surface. When only one shim is used at anyparticular panel support, the lower edge of reinforcing plate part 58 would engagethe upper end of bolt 66 since the latter must be long enough to accommodate a considerable number of said shims.

As previously stated, one of the important features and objects of my present invention is to enable panels to be removed from the wall without dismantling the panels from one end of the wall to the point at which the panel or panels are to be removed. The manner in which this is accomplished will now be described with specific. reference to the construction of studs 22 which are disposed between adjacent panels 10. ,7 I

. Referring first more particularly to FIGS. h and 8, vertical stud 22 has a transverse web 70 transversely con toured as illustrated so as to clear the projectingportions 19 of the panel ends in the recess between said ends. Said web 70 is provided with integral lateral parts or flanges 72 which have a close slidableengagement with the adjacent inwardly bent portions 14 of the panel sides 12, respectively, of both adjacent panels. In accordance with the present invention, said lateral flanges 72 are convexly curved laterally thereof at their surface whichengage the parts 14 of the panels. More specifically, the intermediate portion of flange 72 slidably engages the adjacent marginal end portions or ends 14 of the adjacent panels and the lateral spaced portions of flange 72, which are dis posed on each side of the intermediate portion of the flange, are spaced from the adjacent marginal end portions because of the curvature of the flange. By reason of this curvature of flanges 72 andthe fact that the panel members 12 are not welded or otherwise rigidly secured to each other at their upper and lower portions, the adjacent panels can be separated with considerable facility in the manner illustrated in FIG. 8, i.e. by a force exerted at the meeting ends of the panels in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 8. More specifically, it will be noted that, as previously described, the inturned ends 35 of the members 32 are not welded, or otherwise fixedly secured to the longitudinal channel members 23 and 3t), and when pressure is applied to the two panels in the direction of the arrow A, the opposite sides 12 of each of the two adjacent panel members are free to move longitudinally of each other in parallel vertical planes in the direction of arrows B and C, respectively, so that each ofthe two panels can assume the shape of a parallelogram as illustrated in FIG. 8. Accordingly, when the force is applied in the direction of the arrow A, the meeting ends of the two panels move very nearly in a straight line rather than in arcuate paths, and for this reason, the binding action which might otherwise occur and interfereswith or prevent their disengagement, does not take place. It will be understood, however, that when it is desired to remove the panels in this manner, part of the drop ceiling 24 in the region of said panels and the clip 56 and cap 52 are first removed, and the panels are raised sufficiently so that reinforcing member 60 and the panels clear the upper ends of the panel supports 36. If, for any reason, said panels are not readily releasable from their panel supports, which might happen occasionally due to-the adhesion of paint, forexample, they can be released by cutting off the lower parts ofsaidpanels so as to free them from said supports.

It will be understood that in constructing the wall from the prefabricated structural elements described above, the base channel 38 is first laid on the floor in position along the line of the Wall which is to be erected and is secured in said position. The panel supports are then positioned along the channel base at spaced points according to the width orwidthsof the panels, which may, vary in width inthe same WalL'andsaid supports are secured in position by bolts 66. Then, thefirst panel 10 is placed in position on two panel supports, oneat each of the panels, ordinarily near one end of the wall which is to beerected. Then a stud22'is placed in vertical position in the recess at the, end of said panel, portions of lateral. flanges 72 of the stud engaging the adjacent sides of the panel and portions ofsaid later-a1 parts projecting outwardly from said recess so as to project into the confronting recess of the next panel when the latter is mounted in position. The mounting of the other panels in succession along the length of the wall isthen progressively accomplished in the sameway. I V

Thus it isseen that the above-described construction is well adapted to-accomplish the objects of the present invention. It will be understood, however, that one or more of these objects may be accomplished by other means which will occur to skilled artisans in view of my present disclosure, and it will also be understood that although the utilization of all of the features of the present invention are highly, desirable, it is possible to utilize them separately where the advantage of any other feature is sacrificed. Accordingly, I do not wish to be limited to the specific construction herein shown or described except as may be required by the scope of the appended claims. 1

Certain features-shown or referred to but not claimed: herein, are claimed in my above-mentioned US. 2,968,374.

- Having thus described my invention, what I claim and.

desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

a web positioned transversely of said marginal edge portions of the adjacent ends of adjacent panels and said web having lateral flanges at its opposite edges extending later ally from one of said confronting recesses to the other in movable engagement with the adjacent marginal edge portions of said panels in said recesses for laterally aligning the adjacent panels with each other, each lateral flange being convexly curved laterally of said adjacent marginal edge portions and thereby having an intermediate portion in movable engagement with said adjacent marginal edge portions and laterally spaced portions which are spaced from said adjacent marginal edge portions for permitting adjacent panels to be moved simultaneously at their adjacent ends in a direction transversely of the wall for disengaging said adjacent ends of said panels from each Patent:

other and from the stud disposed in their confronting recesses.

2. In a partition wall, a series of panels disposed in end-to-end relation, said panels comprising spaced confronting side panel members disposed at the opposite sides, respectively, of the wall, said panel members being movable relative each other and said panels being provided with vertically extending recesses in their ends having laterally spaced parallel marginal edge portions, the recesses of adjacent ends of adjacent panels and said marginal edge portions of adjacent panels being in confronting relation, and a vertical stud disposed between adjacent panels in said confronting recesses, said stud having a vertical web disposed transversely of the panels and lateral flanges at the opposite edges of said web extending laterally from one of said confronting recesses to the other in movable engagement with the adjacent marginal edge portions of the adjacent ends of adjacent panels in said recesses for laterally aligning the adjacent panels with each other, each lateral flange being convexly curved laterally of said adjacent marginal edge portions and thereby having an intermediate portion in movable engagement with said adjacent marginal edge portions and laterally spaced portions which are spaced from said adjacent marginal edge portions for permitting adjacent panels to be moved simultaneously at their adjacent ends in a direction transversely of the wall for disengaging said adjacent ends of said panels from each other and from the stud disposed in their confronting recesses.

3. In a partition wall, a series of panels disposed in end-to-end relation in said wall, said panels comprising spaced confronting side panel members disposed at the opposite sides, respectively, of the wall, said panel members having interconnected transverse parts each having a lower edge, and panel supports having a bottom and confronting sides extending upwardly from said bottom and spaced from each other transversely of the wall, each of said sides having upper edge portions above said bottom of said panel support on which said lower edges of said interconnected transverse parts are supported for supporting said panels above said bottom of said panel sup,- ports, said upper edge portions of each side of the panel support having downwardly inclined converging parts which cam the lower edges of the adjacent transverse parts of adjacent panels toward each other and hold the adjacent ends of adjacent panels in said end-to-end relation.

4. In a partition wall, a series of panels disposed in end-to-end relation in said wall, said panels comprising spaced confronting side panel members disposed at the opposite sides, respectively, of the wall, said panel members having interconnected transverse paits each having a lower edge, and panel supports having a bottom and confronting sides extending upwardly from said bottom and spaced from each other transversely of the wall, each of said sides having upper edge portions above said bottom of said panel support on which said lower edges of said interconnected transverse parts are supported for supporting said panels above said bottom of said panel supports, said upper edge portions of each side of the panel support having downwardly inclined converging parts which cam the transverse parts of adjacent panels toward each other and hold the lower edges of the adjacent ends of adjacent panels at said lower edges thereof in said endato-end relation, and removable means engaging said adjacent panels at upper parts thereof for holding them in end-to-end relation.

5. In a partition wall, a series of panels disposed in end-to-end relation in said wall, said panels comprising spaced confronting side panel members disposed at the opposite sides, respectively, of the wall, said panel members having interconnected transverse parts adjacent each end thereof, each transverse part having a lower edge, and a base having individual panel supports disposed in spaced relation longitudinally of the wall under the adjacent ends of adjacent panels, respectively, each panel support having a bottom and spaced upstanding members extending upwardly from saidv bottom, each of-said upstanding members having an upper edge on which the lower edges of said transverse parts, at the adjacent ends of adjacent panels, are supported at the joint there between above the bottom of said supports, there being a panel support at both ends of each panel, and means on said upstanding members engageable with the lower edges of said transverse parts of said adjacent panels, respectively, for positioning them in adjacent end-to-end relation when the adjacent panels are mounted on their supports.

6. In a partition wall, a series of panels disposed in end-to-end relation in said wall, said panels comprising spaced confronting side panel members disposed at the opposite sides, respectively, of the wall, said panel members having interconnected transverse parts adjacent each end thereof, and a base having individual panel supports disposed in spaced relation longitudinally of the base, each panel support having a bottom and laterally spaced sides extending upwardly from said bottom and positioned under the adjacent ends of adjacent panels, re-

spectively, each of the sides of the panel supports having upper edges on which the transverse parts at the adjacent ends of adjacent panels are supported at the joint therebetween for supporting said panels above the bottom of said panel supports, there being a panel support at both ends of each panel, and means engaging said panels and overlapping vertical portions of said supports below said upper edges thereof for providing a reinforcing overlapconnection between the wall panels and said base.

7. In a partition wall, a series of panels disposed in end-to-end relation in said wall, said panels comprising spaced confronting side panel members disposed at the opposite sides, respectively, of the wall, said panel members being movable relative each other and being connected to each other only at their ends, said panels being provided with vertically extending recesses in their ends, the recesses of adjacent ends of adjacent panels being in confronting relation, said confronting panel members having confronting later-ally spaced parallel marginal edge portions which define said recesses, respectively, and a vertical stud disposed between adjacent panels in said confronting recesses, said stud having a vertical web disposed transversely of the panels and lateral flanges at the opposite edges of said web extending laterally from one of said confronting recesses to the other in movable engagement with said marginal edge portions of said panel members in said recesses for laterally aligning the adjacent panels with each other, said laterally extending flanges being convexly curved laterally of said marginal edge portions and thereby having an intermediate portion in movable engagement with said marginal edge portions and laterally spaced portions which are spaced from said marginal edge portions to permit adjacent panels to be moved simultaneously at their adjacent ends in a direction transversely of the wall for disengaging said adjacent ends of said panels from each other and from the stud disposed in their confronting recesses.

8. In a partition wall, a series of panels disposed in end-to-end relation in said wall, said panels comprising spaced confronting side panel members disposed at the opposite sides, respectively, of the wall, said panel members of each panel having interconnected transverse parts adjacent each end thereof and marginal edge portions extending beyond said transverse parts and defining a vertical recess, and a base having individual panel supports disposed in spaced relation longitudinally of the wall under the adjacent ends of adjacent panels, respectively, each panel support having a bottom and upper edges above said bottom on which the transverse parts at the adjacent ends of adjacent panels are supported at the joint therebetween above said bottom, there being a panel having a part in overlapping engagement with portions of said supports below said upper edges thereof for providing a reinforcing overlap-oonnection between the wall panels and said base, said last mentioned means comprising a vertical stud disposed between said panel ends and having lateral flanges in engagement with said marginal edge portions of said panels for laterally aligning the adjacent panels with each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Keppler June 24, Kotrbaty July 23, Goddard Nov. 12, Bohnsack Aug. 30, Betcone. Nov. 22,

, Sheldon July 4, MacDonald July 6, 

